Konijeti Rosaiah
Indian politician (1933–2021) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Indian politician (1933–2021) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Konijeti Rosaiah (4 July 1933 – 4 December 2021) was an Indian politician who served as the 15th chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2009 to 2010.[1][2][3] He also served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 2011 to 2016 and the Governor of Karnataka (additional charge) for two months. He was previously an MLC, MLA and MP from the Indian National Congress numerous times and handled many ministerial posts over his political career spanning over half a century.
Konijeti Rosaiah | |
|---|---|
| |
| 13th Governor of Tamil Nadu | |
| In office 31 August 2011 – 30 August 2016 | |
| Chief Minister | |
| Preceded by | Surjit Singh Barnala |
| Succeeded by | C. Vidyasagar Rao (Additional charge) |
| Governor of Karnataka | |
(Additional Charge) | |
| In office 28 June 2014 – 31 August 2014 | |
| Chief Minister | Siddaramaiah |
| Preceded by | H. R. Bhardwaj |
| Succeeded by | Vajubhai Vala |
| 15th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh | |
| In office 3 September 2009 – 24 November 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy |
| Succeeded by | Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy |
| Minister of Finance, Planning, Small Savings, Lotteries and Legislative Affairs Government of Andhra Pradesh | |
| In office 14 May 2004 – 2 September 2009 | |
| Governor | |
| Chief Minister | Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy |
| Preceded by | Ashok Gajapathi Raju |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 10 March 1998 – 26 April 1999 | |
| Prime Minister | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| Preceded by | Kota Saidiah |
| Succeeded by | Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy |
| Constituency | Narasaraopet |
| Minister of Finance, Transportation Electricity and Home Affairs Government of Andhra Pradesh | |
| In office 1989–1994 | |
| Governor | |
| Chief Minister | |
| Member of Legislative Assembly Andhra Pradesh | |
| In office 2004–2009 | |
| Preceded by | Paleti Rama Rao |
| Succeeded by | Amanchi Krishna Mohan |
| Constituency | Chirala |
| In office 1989–1994 | |
| Preceded by | Sajja Chandramouli |
| Succeeded by | Paleti Rama Rao |
| Constituency | Chirala |
| Minister of Roads & Buildings Housing and Transportation Government of Andhra Pradesh | |
| In office 1978–1983 | |
| Governor | K. C. Abraham |
| Chief Minister | |
| Member of Legislative Council Andhra Pradesh | |
| In office 2009–2010 | |
| Chairman | A. Chakrapani |
| Deputy | Mommed Jani |
| Leader of the House |
|
| Constituency | Andhra Pradesh |
| In office 1968–1985 | |
| Chairman |
|
| Deputy |
|
| Leader of the House | |
| Constituency | Andhra Pradesh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 July 1933 Vemuru, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India) |
| Died | 4 December 2021 (aged 88) Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress (until 2011) |
| Spouse |
Konijeti Sivalakshmi
(m. 1950) |
| Children | 4 |
While serving as Governor of Tamil Nadu, he was also given additional responsibility as Governor of Karnataka when Governor H. R. Bhardwaj's term ended on 28 June 2014,[4][5] until Vajubhai Vala took over on 1 September 2014. After completing his five-year term as Governor of Tamil Nadu, he retired from active politics.
Rosaiah was born into a Telugu-speaking, middle-class Hindu Gavara Komati Vaishya family in Vemuru, Tenali mandal, present day Guntur District, in Andhra Pradesh. He graduated from Guntur Hindu College, Andhra University in Commerce.[6] While he was studying in Guntur, he was elected as the student leader and thus entered into politics. He studied at Zilla Parishad High School.[7]
Rosaiah began as a political disciple of Swatantra Party leader and independence activist N.G. Ranga.[8][9] He was elected as MLC in 1968, 1974, 1980 and 2009 and as an MLA in 1989 and 2004 from Chirala assembly constituency. In 1998, he was elected as MP from Narasaraopet. In the year 2011 he was sworn in as Governor of Tamil Nadu.[8] During his long political career he interacted and worked closely with most of the Prime Ministers of India, including Jawaharlal Nehru.
Rosaiah was the President of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) from 1994 to 1996.
Rosaiah presented the state budget 16 times, including 7 times in a row, a record in the country.[9] He was a finance minister under Marri Chenna Reddy, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy and Y. S. Rajashekhara Reddy. As Finance Minister in Chenna Reddy's cabinet, he ensured teachers received retirement benefits. Rosaiah was well known for adhering to strict fiscal management principles and effective mobilization and utilization of government funds. His contribution to the state as its longest serving finance minister is well recognized.
Rosaiah took over as the Chief Minister after the death of Y. S. Rajashekhara Reddy. In his tenure, Konijeti strived to bring political stability to the state and continue all the welfare programs planned and initiated by his predecessor. He is often credited with the effective management of the flood situation during October 2009, the law and order situation with respect to the Telangana agitation which started in December 2010, effective budgetary management, streamlining of the delivery systems of welfare programs etc. He submitted his resignation as Chief Minister to the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, ESL Narasimhan on 24 November 2010 citing health reasons.[10]
As per the Information submitted to Parliament Office, as Member of Parliament of 12th Lok Sabha the following positions were held by him:[6]
1968-85 Member, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council
1979-83 Minister, Roads and Buildings, Housing, Transport and Home, Andhra Pradesh
1989-94 Member, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Minister, Finance and Transport, Andhra Pradesh
1992-93 Leader of House, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
1998 Elected to 12th Lok Sabha
1998-99 Member, Committee on Industry and Member, Library Committee and Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
He retired from active politics in August 2016, after completion of his term as Governor of Tamil Nadu.[11] His political career lasted around 60 years.
Andhra University conferred Rosaiah with an honorary doctorate in 2007.[12]
He was married on 4 June 1950 to Smt Sivalakshmi.[6] He has 3 sons and 1 daughter.[8] His sons are K S Subba Rao and K S N Murthy and daughter is P Rama Devi. His socio-cultural activities included helping the under-privileged. He was also a good orator.[8] He was also member of the spices board in the year 1998. His professions include agriculturist, trader and industrialist.[6]
Rosaiah died on 4 December 2021 at the age of 88 in Hyderabad, Telangana after a brief illness.[13] The Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Government of Telangana observed a three-day state mourning as a mark of respect to him.[14] He was cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Kompally on 5 December 2021.[15]
